The Weight of Water

Carrying water jugs uphill in summer heat hits different. Your arms are on fire, you're watching your friends play cricket down the street, and you're stuck hauling water because that's what needs to happen.

This was a lesson in responsibility, sacrifice, discipline and the reality that comfort is a privilege, not a guarantee. I had to get the water home. So I carried it, even when I was exhausted, even when I wanted to be anywhere else.

That's what I want to do in healthcare, carry what needs to be carried to those who need it most, no matter how hard the climb.

Studying by Torchlight

Power cuts were routine. Darkness would fall in the middle of solving equations or reading passages. I learned to keep a torch ready and to work faster during the hours of light, to adapt.

My father's health struggles added another layer of complexity. Medical emergencies don't wait for convenient moments. Neither does education. I had to balance both, often choosing between being present for my family and pursuing my dreams.

When Words Became Walls

Anxiety just showed up one day and decided to stay. And with it came a stutter that turned my own voice into something I couldn't trust. Suddenly every conversation felt like a test I wasn't prepared for, and public speaking became the stuff of actual nightmares. But staying quiet was never going to work for me. I had things to say, and I wasn't about to let fear steal that from me.

And bit by bit, things changed. I learned breathing techniques that actually worked and practiced in safe spaces until speaking stopped feeling like a battle. The stutter didn't vanish instantly. But I got better at working with it instead of against it. I realized my voice didn't need to be flawless to matter. The fear's still there sometimes, but now I'm louder than it is.

When the Sky Fell

Pakistan has endured extraordinary challenges during my application period. Floods, Wars, Water crisis. When I began writing, an India-Pakistan conflict erupted, lasting almost two weeks. Rockets struck my city, destroying our airport.

The world felt unstable, but my resolve strengthened. If anything, the chaos reminded me why education matters and why building a better future is worth fighting for.

Finding My Voice Again

Recovery wasn't linear. Some days were victories I spoke clearly, confidently. Other days, the stutter returned. But it taught me that life was'nt about never falling; it's about always getting back up.

I practiced. I sought help. I embraced my vulnerability. Slowly, the anxiety loosened its grip. My voice steadied. The walls I'd built around myself began to crumble because I was finally strong enough to let them fall.